Orissa High Court: Educated Wife Without Income Entitled to Maintenance

The Orissa High Court has held that it is unfair to say that all educated wives are idle women who are seeking to live off their husbands in the absence of any income or earning prospects. 

While dealing with the plea of a husband challenging a family court order granting ₹10,000 maintenance to his wife and daughter, the Court noted that it is not always necessary that the wife is intentionally avoiding work to harass the husband with the liability of paying maintenance.

The Bench also noted that under Classical Hindu Law, a Hindu male is morally and legally bound to maintain his aged parents, virtuous wife, and unmarried daughter.